Paramus homeowners who have long waited on the borough to trim or remove a town-owned tree hanging over their driveway or roofline could soon get more direct say in the matter. Proposed changes to borough rules would allow residents to maintain, trim, prune or remove borough trees on their own property, though only with sign-off from the Shade Tree Department.
The proposal, first reported by TAPinto, would require residents seeking to work on a borough tree to submit an application to the Shade Tree Department, which is available at Borough Hall. Any changes would still run through the Board of Shade Tree Commissioners, which holds full control over the regulation, planting and care of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery along borough streets.
Mayor Christopher DiPiazza framed the proposed amendments as an attempt to strike a balance, saying they aim to protect the tree canopy while considering residents' needs, according to the same report. Storm damage to homeowners' properties is also part of the discussion.
Replacement Trees and Fees Built Into the Proposal
Under the proposed framework, if required replacement trees cannot be planted on the same property where a tree is removed, the applicant could plant them in a separate, municipality-approved area or pay a per-tree removal fee, with that money set aside specifically for future tree planting and ongoing maintenance.
The reporting also lays out a more specific cost example: a curb-cut expansion that requires removing a borough tree would carry a $1,500 tree-value fee plus a $500 replacement fee before a no-cost permit is issued.
Timing of a Final Vote Remains Unclear
According to the TAPinto report, Paramus expected a final vote on the amendments at Mayor DiPiazza's next meeting. Separately, a notice posted on the borough's own NewsFlash page states that an ordinance was introduced on October 6, 2026, and adopted on October 20, 2026, though that notice does not include an ordinance number, and it is not established whether it refers to the same measure described in the reporting on residents' tree rights. A borough agenda has also listed Ordinance 2026-25 as an amendment to Section 25-6 of the borough code, though it is likewise unclear whether that ordinance matches the tree-care proposal. A Paramus Borough Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Borough Hall's Council Chambers, 1 W Jockish Square.
For now, residents do have some clarity on where things stand with private property. A borough FAQ states that no permit is currently required to trim or remove trees on private property, unless the property is undeveloped or has a required Zoning Board planted buffer area, and it advises residents unsure about buffer requirements to contact the borough directly.
Storm Damage Has Strained the Borough's Tree Canopy
The push to clarify tree rules comes as Paramus works through a backlog of storm-related damage. A report from The Ridgewood Blog says a July 3 storm knocked down at least 125 trees around the area, part of a broader pattern in which storms and natural disasters can send limbs and whole trees crashing onto homeowners' properties and causing personal damage.
In response, the borough approved a $23,225 fall tree contract with Barbato Nursery Corp. at an August 19 meeting, per the same outlet's reporting. That work reportedly covers planting 400 new trees spread across Paramus neighborhoods, removing 60 trees that were dead or storm-damaged, and clearing 350 stumps unrelated to the storm. Separately, the Shade Tree Department received approval in September to remove those 350 stumps and 60 impacted trees, according to the dossier's sourced details.
Paramus also awarded a $380,000 contract to Lyndhurst-based La Forza Construction LLC to replace more than 600 sidewalk slabs damaged by municipal tree roots, the Ridgewood Blog reported, adding that the borough does not plan to cut down trees during that sidewalk work and intends instead to repair concrete and trim roots to preserve them. The Shade Tree Commission's superintendent said 180 trees were planted that fall and that winter removals had begun, with 225 trees scheduled for removal and crews working daily.
The borough's tree-management efforts have drawn state-level recognition as well. A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection release states that Paramus is the only municipality in New Jersey, and one of just 27 in the United States, to hold the Tree City of the World designation.
